Tokunboh Ishmael is a global voice for creating wealth and impact by unlocking the potential of businesses that provide essential goods and services that address the accessibility, affordability, and inclusion needs of underserved markets to drive superior performance and shared prosperity.

She is co-founder and Managing Director of Alitheia Capital, a female-led impact investing private equity firm, a Yale World Fellow, and a member of the inaugural cohort of the Aspen Institute’s Finance Leaders Fellowship.

Tokunboh was a Dragon Panelist on the popular Dragons Den Nigeria TV show and currently sits on several corporate boards. As a dynamic speaker, she shares her over two decades of knowledge on topics including Private Equity and Venture Capital in Africa; ESG and Impacting Investing; Gender Lens Investing; and diversity and Inclusion.

Harry ‘Tomi Davies (TD) is the Collaborator-in-Chief at TVC Labs in Lagos, Nigeria, and the founding President of the African Business Angel Network (ABAN). He also serves on the board of the Global Business Angel Network (GBAN). TD is an advocate for technology-driven innovation in Africa, believing it creates both economic value and social impact. He has worked with global brands and led technology initiatives across multiple continents before focusing on Africa in 2000.

TD is involved with various organizations, including Powerstove, MBO Capital, Big Cabal Media, and Laptops4Learning Nigeria. He chairs the Innovation Committee of the Lagos State Science, Research and Innovation Council (LASRIC). As an angel investor, he aims to support African founders using technology to drive innovation, as detailed in his book “Investment Worthy Startup.”

Iyinoluwa “E” Aboyeji, OON is currently the Founding Partner of Future Africa, Africa’s largest seed stage investor which has invested millions of dollars into over a hundred startups across Africa. 

Before that, he co-founded two of Africa’s seven unicorns; Andela and Flutterwave. Iyinoluwa has served his country as the youngest member of Nigeria’s Presidential Council on Industrial Policy and Competitiveness and has been recognized as one of the youngest

recipients of a national award as the Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON). He has been

recognized as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and a Forbes 30 under 30

honoree amongst other awards and fellowships.

Dr Juliet Ehimuan is the Founder of Beyond Limits and the immediate past Director of Google in West Africa. She was named by Forbes as one of the top 20 power women in Africa, by the London Business School as one of 30 people changing the world, and MIPAD as one of the Most Influential People of African Descent. She has also been featured in the BBC Africa Power Women series, and on CNN Innovate Africa.

With over 25 years of experience primarily in Technology, Oil & Gas, and New Media industries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa; Juliet is a leading voice on Innovation, Transformation, and Leadership. She has received numerous awards for outstanding contributions to the digital landscape in Africa.

Juliet holds an Executive MBA from the London Business School, a Postgraduate degree in Computer Science from the University of Cambridge; and a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. She was awarded IT Personality of the Year in 2012 by the Nigeria Computer Society, Digital Personality of the Year 2016 by Marketing World; and received a 2015 Titans of Technology award from TechnologyAfrica. Juliet is the Convener of the DICE platform focused on growing the digital business landscape in Africa by fostering regional and global collaborations, investments, and partnerships.

Anu Adedoyin Adasolum is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Sabi. In her role, she provides day-to-day leadership and management, driving the company’s growth strategies and refining its processes to accelerate commerce across Nigeria and Africa. Anu is instrumental in empowering the operational team to meet business goals and projections, playing a crucial role in connecting stakeholders in the informal sector with valuable opportunities.

Anu has a diverse background with extensive experience across several industries, including renewable energy, manufacturing, private equity, real estate, and e-commerce. Before founding Sabi, she was the Chief Operating Officer at Rensource Distributed Energy Limited, where she led efforts to deliver clean power to over 300 private residences and more than 50,000 merchants across 15 markets in Nigeria.

Her previous roles include serving as Vice President of J-Force at Jumia Group, Africa’s largest e-commerce platform, where she was responsible for sourcing, internal procurement, and vendor acquisition. Anu successfully managed a team of over 55 people, restructured teams and processes, and significantly contributed to Jumia’s revenue growth across Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana.

Earlier in her career, Anu worked with Sahel Capital Partners as a Senior Business Analyst, focusing on the agriculture and nutrition sectors in West Africa. She also gained valuable experience at KPMG Advisory Services in financial modelling, business plan development, and process design, and led operations and material planning at NASCON, a Dangote subsidiary.

Anu has lived and worked across Europe and Africa, including the UK, Denmark, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana, bringing a wealth of international experience to her leadership at Sabi.

Ms. Elizabeth Polk is a seasoned global media and technology executive, attorney, and entrepreneur with over 16 years of experience in senior leadership roles. She has influenced key business strategies and managed multiple P&Ls at both privately- and publicly-held companies. Additionally, she co-founded and serves as CEO of a wellness business. 

Ms. Polk is also an attorney at Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole LLP, representing high-profile talent, and CEO of Speir Pilates, a premium wellness business. Previously, she served as Vice President of Business & Legal Affairs at Netflix, Inc., where she played a crucial role in the company’s global expansion and original content strategy. Ms. Polk is recognized in Variety’s “Dealmakers Impact Report” and holds a J.D. from Loyola Law School and a B.A. in Communications from Howard University. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband and three sons.

Kola is the founding partner at the Pan-African early-stage VC fund, Ventures Platform Fund. He is an experienced investor, insightful non-executive director, and company chair who is passionate about supporting the growth of startups. 

He has a proven track record of success in leading investments in over 100 companies across Africa, India, and the US. This includes payment companies like Paystack and healthcare companies like MDaaS. He was also the founder and former CEO of Emerging Platforms, a leading enterprise software provider in West Africa. He brings expertise across various sectors, including venture capital, technology, media, agriculture, infrastructure, publishing, and real estate.

Kola actively participates in mentoring programs such as XL Africa, the World Bank Accelerator, and Google Launchpad Accelerator. He serves on the boards of multiple organizations, including ARM Financial Advisers, Iron Global Markets, and Reliance HMO.

Ademola Adesina is the Co-Founder of Sabi, which connects African markets through innovative technology. Launched in April 2021, Sabi generated around $1 billion in GMV in 2023 from nearly 300,000 retailers. The Series B platform is backed by investors like CommerzVentures and Norrsken22.

Ademola has extensive experience in early and growth-stage ventures. He previously founded Rensource, led initiatives at Automatiks, AST, and Pagatech, and contributed to the Global Impact Investing Network. He also held leadership roles at Aquifer and Capricorn Investment Group.

Mobola da-Silva is a Partner at Capria Ventures and is instrumental in driving Capria’s investment strategy in Africa and achieving the firm’s vision and growth ambition across the Global South.  A careful listener and a thoughtful strategist with an innate sense for value, Mobola has spent the last 20+ years of her career working with businesses, from start-ups to central banks, as an investor, as a consultant, and as an advisor.  With a wealth of experience in early-stage investing, she has a deep understanding of the African entrepreneurial landscape and a passion for supporting the incredible potential and innovation emerging from the continent. 

Surayyah Ahmad is a General Partner at Aduna Capital, a venture capital firm that invests in early-stage, underserved founders in Africa. She is also a Founding Partner at TTLabs, an accelerator focusing on supporting founders from diverse backgrounds, particularly in Northern Nigeria and among female entrepreneurs, helping them validate their ideas and prepare for funding. 

Previously, Surayyah successfully exited an e-commerce and fulfilment service company in Nigeria and founded an AI company in the UK. Her professional experience includes a role as a Senior Product Manager in the UK. She is currently studying at the University of Oxford, with a focus on finance and impact investing. Her previous academic achievements include a degree in Business Management from the University of Hertfordshire and a second degree in Economics from the University of London, with academic direction from the London School of Economics.

Dr Ayotunde Coker is one of the leading players in the development of the data centre industry in  Africa and is the  Chairperson of an influential industry group,  the  Africa  Data  Centres Association. Before joining  OADC  as  Chief  Executive  Officer,  Dr  Coker led  Rack  Centre to become a household name in  Nigeria and a leading brand in  Africa,  with global recognition and numerous prestigious international awards.

Throughout a distinguished international career as a technology and business leader,  Dr Coker has held senior positions in finance,  energy,  management consulting and the government.

His achievements have been recognised by numerous awards,  including the Distinguished  Manufacturing  Alumni  Award  (Cranfield  Institute of  Technology)  2020, and  in the same year, he was recognised as one of the Global Top 30 Edge Computing Leaders by Data Economy Magazine. He holds an MSc from Cranfield Institute of Technology and a PhD (Honoris Causa) from ESCAE University.

Aaron leads early-stage fintech investing at the Digital Currency Group (DCG),  backing fintech, AI and crypto founders on their journeys to build the next generation of financial services.

He’s also co-founder of Venture for Africa, one of Africa’s leading startup-focused non-technical talent platforms, and the Obuntu Foundation, a fellowship for emerging managers in Africa. 

June Angelides has over 13 years of experience working across venture debt, venture capital, and entrepreneurship.  She began her career at Silicon Valley Bank, then launched her startup which she ran for 3 years before joining the investing world. She invests in Europe and Africa across all sectors. Some of her investments include Chowdeck, Craydel, Raenest and CDCare.

Ayeni Oluwatobi Dorcas also known as MissTechy, is a Nigerian tech content creator and graduate of Banking and Finance from Covenant University. She started her tech career in February 2015 with the MissTechy blog and later expanded to YouTube and Instagram.

MissTechy is celebrated for its innovation, quality content, and community engagement, offering tech reviews, insights, and tutorials. Tobi has partnered with brands like Google, MTN, Nescafe, Microsoft, Oppo, Smoov, and Standard Chartered Bank. She has received awards including YTech100 and Best Tech Content Creator in Nigeria. MissTechy aims to demystify technology and make it accessible to all, with future plans to empower young female teens through the MissTechy Academy.

Buchi Okoro Co-founded and leads a team of 100+ people at Quidax a leading cryptocurrency exchange where he’s CEO. Quidax is run by people who are crazy enough to believe they can build something that puts Africa on the map and is currently the largest Nigerian cryptocurrency exchange. He’s championing the vision at Quidax where sending crypto across the globe is as easy as sending a text message. When he’s not killing it wearing his CEO hat, Buchi enjoys diving into a good book, paintballing, and spinning tracks as a mini DJ

Femi Aluko is the CEO and co-founder of Chowdeck, Africa’s leading on-demand delivery service. Founded in October 2021 and backed by Y Combinator, Chowdeck enables seamless on-demand delivery of meals, groceries, medicines and other items in Africa, making it easier for consumers to access items they desire and driving more growth and profitability for businesses.

Before co-founding Chowdeck, Femi was Principal Engineer at Paystack where he led the development of payment infrastructure that processed tens of millions of transactions monthly.

Marlon Nichols is the co-founder and managing general partner at MaC Venture Capital, a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in visionary founders building the future that the world wants to see. Marlon has an extensive background in technology, private equity, media and entertainment. His unique eye for global and cultural trends, along with shifts in consumer behaviour, has helped him uplift and accelerate entrepreneurs and companies that are on the verge of their breakthrough moment.

Uzoma Dozie is a leading figure in the Nigerian finance and banking landscape, with expertise spanning banking, technology, and investment. He currently serves as the CEO and Founder of Sparkle, a mobile-first micro-finance bank and technology platform focused on empowering Nigeria’s digital natives and retail sector. Uzoma boasts over 20 years of experience in the Nigerian banking sector, culminating in his role as Group Managing Director and Bank CEO of Diamond Bank from 2014 to 2018. There, he spearheaded the bank’s digital transformation agenda, whilst growing the customer base to 18m+. During his tenure, Uzoma successfully navigated the institution’s merger with Access Bank Plc, resulting in the new institution becoming Africa’s largest bank. Following his traditional banking career,

Uzoma turned his focus to Sparkle, a platform designed to address the lifestyle needs of individuals and small businesses. This commitment reflects Uzoma’s deep-seated belief in leveraging technology to advance financial inclusion and empower the retail sector. He holds a BSc in Chemistry [University of Reading], an MSc in Chemical Research [UCL] and an MBA from Imperial College London. 

Adedayo “Dayo” Okesola is the VP of Product Engineering at Flutterwave. He is an innovative product leader with about ten years of experience in software engineering, solutions architecture, technical leadership, technology transformations, and solutions R&D for commercial banks, fintechs, NGOs, and e-government services. At Flutterwave, Dayo leads the product Engineering teams across multiple countries to drive the development and delivery of cutting-edge products that meet the evolving customers’ needs and drive business growth.

Dayo’s leadership of the Send App Product, Flutterwave’s remittance solution, USSD Infrastructure, and notable platform stability projects are part of his proven track record of delivering innovative solutions across the payment ecosystem in Nigeria and beyond. He holds a BSc in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, and is committed to enabling business success with software solutions.

Babajide Duroshola joined M-KOPA Nigeria as the General Manager in July 2021. Prior to M-KOPA, he was the Country Director at SafeBoda Nigeria where he was responsible for the overall growth of the business. He is a Business Management Executive with extensive expertise in startups, technology, banking and consulting. With over 10 years of extensive transnational experience across roles, he has developed comprehensive competence in business operations and management, strategy, marketing, community and ecosystem management and engagement.

Multilaterally skilled, Babajide is also a Limited Partner at Rallycap Global. This emerging market investment fund focuses on investing in exciting startups in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia. Babajide via Rallycap has led investment processes into exciting companies like Risevest, while also participating in investments into other companies in Africa and Latin America.

Prior to SafeBoda, he was the Community Manager, Technical Talent at Andela where he was responsible for leading the community and owning the brand of Andela, to attract new community members and fellows to the organization. He has also served as a Team Member of Human Resources at Access Bank and a Human Capital Consultant at a leading local consulting firm.

He holds a Bachelor’s of Technology in Computer Science and Technology from the Bells University of Technology, Otta and is a PDA Personality Development Analyst (PDA). In addition to his professional work schedule, Babajide participates in community building and social intervention through volunteering. He is a program assistant with the Young Professionals Program (YPP) which is part of the community improvement work at Covenant Nation, the faith-based group he belongs to.

Peace is a multifaceted Marketing leader with 10+ years of experience and has lead marketing teams for companies like Smile ID, Seedstars, Africhange, Kora and more.

She is also the creator and chief executive of Founders Connect. Founders Connect is an organisation dedicated to showcasing the inspiring stories of African entrepreneurs and business leaders through video storytelling and by creating opportunities for the community to engage via in-person events across different cities including Lagos, London, Toronto etc and their closed slack community.

Beyond her marketing career, Peace has built a brand as a global thought leader. She has served as a Growth Mentor for Seedstars Growth Program and trained for Google, British Council, Facebook and the Digital Marketing Institute and she is a TED speaker. In addition, she is an Angel Investor with a portfolio of over 15 companies and Venture Partner with HoaQ and Ingressive Capital

Chisom Nwokwu is a multi-talented Software Engineer, Published Author and Digital Creator. Passionate about Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, her expertise cuts across leveraging big-data and cloud technologies to design and develop scalable data platforms for organisations.

She has worked with some of the biggest international firms, such as Microsoft, where she worked in the Windows Engineering Team and Bank of America, where she worked as a Technology Analyst on the Robotics & Automation Team.

She is also the author of a popular book titled “A Techie’s Guide into Big Tech Companies” a valuable resource that helps aspiring software engineers secure roles at top international tech firms. In addition to her professional achievements, Chisom is an accomplished public speaker and YouTuber, playing a pivotal role in the global tech scene.

Charles is dedicated to accelerating early-stage startups and cultivating the climate tech startup ecosystem in Nigeria and across the continent; working with The Catalyst Fund. With over 10 years of diverse experience spanning consulting, energy, technology, and education, he brings a wealth of expertise.

Previously a Consultant with McKinsey & Company, Charles played a pivotal role in strategy formulation, organizational transformation, workforce transformation, and the design and launch of digital businesses across various sectors. His credentials as a chartered professional engineer in Australia reflect his proficiency in data, technology, energy, utilities, and resources.

Driven by a passion for positive social impact, Charles founded AlumUnite, a data platform revolutionizing education financing with a pivotal role for Africa’s alumni community. His global perspective, shaped by work and personal exploration across all six continents, enriches his insights. Charles holds an MBA from IESE Business School, Barcelona, and an MSc in Energy and Resources from University College London, Australia. His academic journey began with a Bachelor’s in Power Systems Engineering (First Class) from the Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

Kenfield is the CEO and Co-Founder of Tappi, an end-to-end SaaS for small businesses helping them to find more customers and keep the ones they already have. 

After graduating from MIT with a PhD in Design and Computation, Kenfield built Ajua, an enterprise SaaS platform solving the problem of first-party data that served some of the largest telcos, banks, and retail in Africa to drive operational efficiency, customer retention, and customer acquisition. Ken grew that business to serve brands such as MTN, Safaricom, Kenya Airways, Standard Chartered Bank and other large businesses, before starting Tappi to bring the same software sophistication to small businesses across Africa. 

Kenfield has degrees in Computer Science and Systems Engineering. Kenfield hails from a 5,000-person island called Montserrat, with ties to Barbados and Nigeria.

Oji Udezue is an experienced Product leader of large and innovative software organizations, with stints in marketing, sales, engineering, and design leadership. He has a track record for building customer-centric products and bringing them to market while managing and mentoring high-performance teams.
He is currently finishing his book “Building Rocketship – Product Management for product-led companies” – a practical wisdom-laced tome for PMs/PM leaders building the next generation of successful software companies and collaborators. He’s been recently working at the forefront of AI software company building, infusing AI into Tyepform.com, and building a new venture under Typeform’s brand – https://formless.ai. 

He is known for bringing a product-led growth (PLG) mindset to the companies he joins. He is the Chief Product Officer at Typeform.com, a product that strives to make the web more human. He led the Content, Creation, and Conversation team on Twitter – leading Tweets, DMs, Spaces, the Creators Initiative, and more. He was also formerly Chief Product Officer at Calendly where he helped 5x the company and turn it into a unicorn. He was also Head of Product for Atlassian’s Communication division where he led product strategy & execution for Atlassian Stride, launching Atlassian’s first product post-IPO. He has held product leadership positions at Spiceworks and at Bridgewater Associates, which he joined after over a decade in Product Management at Microsoft. 

In his free time, he mentors startups, focusing on companies with diverse and women founders and B2B SaaS as ProductMind. He’s the Managing Partner of the Kernel Fund which invests in startups in Africa and a member of the Board of Directors at Quitch. Oji is working on a book about Product Management for PLG companies and also writes a lot about building products and teams on Substack.

Victor Alade, the CEO, and co-founder of Raenest, is a seasoned professional with a rich history in the tech industry. He launched Raenest in 2022, leveraging his extensive experience and innovative vision.
Before his role at Raenest, Victor held influential positions in renowned organisations. At Acumen Fund in the United States, Victor served as an Engineering Manager, leading the development of Acumen Academy, a globally recognised online social impact platform.

His expertise was also evident during his tenure as a Senior Software Engineer and Salesforce Screener at Andela, a prominent unicorn outsourcing company headquartered in the United States.
Furthermore, Victor was pivotal in overseeing technical integration efforts at JumiaPay (Jumia) across four countries. Additionally, Victor built a cryptocurrency payment gateway at Jostpay, enabling African businesses to accept payments through cryptocurrency.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Victor has demonstrated his commitment to social impact through volunteer work, including his contribution to the development of a mobile app for one of the largest churches in Africa.

Basil Udotai, Esq., is the Founding Partner of JOHNSON & WILNER LLP, a Business and Technology Law Practice focused on Nigeria’s digital economy. With over twenty years in Technology Law, Policy, and Regulation, he has played a crucial role in Nigeria’s tech development. 

As Coordinator of the Nigerian Cybercrime Working Group and Director of Cybersecurity at the Office of the National Security Adviser, Mr. Udotai led the creation of key cybercrime and cybersecurity frameworks. At the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), he negotiated influential policies and transactions, including the Government-wide Software Licensing Agreement with Microsoft and the .ng ccTLD Redelegation Agreement with ICANN. Known as the Father of Technology Law in Nigeria, Mr. Udotai continues to offer strategic counsel to clients in the digital space.

Fiona Weeks is a dynamic storyteller dedicated to unveiling and sharing the unique narratives behind every brand. As Managing Director of Pulse West Africa, she leads the creation and execution of innovative digital strategies, ensuring top-notch creative and editorial standards for marketing clients and media brands alike.

Her diverse career includes roles in brand management at Unilever’s global headquarters in Rotterdam and as a broadcast journalist with ABC News in Maryland, USA. Fiona holds a BA in Journalism from the University of Maryland, College Park, and an MBA from the Rotterdam School of Management, highlighting her commitment to both creative and strategic excellence.

Outside of work, Fiona is a passionate foodie who enjoys exploring Lagos’s vibrant culinary scene, always seeking the next great dining experience.

Wiza Jalakasi is an international business development expert specialising in the setup and operations of high-performance technology startups across Africa, often sharing moments from his journey on Twitter @wizaj. His career experience spans 13 years and 16 African countries, founding and building tech startups across industry verticals in the B2B and B2C space.

Wiza is currently the Director of Africa Market Development at Ebanx, a Brazilian headquartered global payments processor serving over 1,000 merchants to reach over a billion customers in 29 countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia. Before joining Ebanx, Wiza previously served as Vice President of Global Merchant Business at Chipper Cash – a cross-border mobile money service with over 5 million users.

He is also a Venture Partner at RaliCap, a global collective venture fund combining capital, operating expertise and networks into a collaborative investment community targeting emerging markets. Wiza also serves as the Africa host for ThisWeekInFintech.com Fintech Happy Hours, bringing together thousands of fintech professionals at memorable events in Lagos, Nairobi, Cape Town and other cities.

Ms Lavina is a prominent figure in the advancement of responsible AI, dedicated to harnessing technology for good and unlocking Africa’s potential. Recognised as a Top 10 Leader in advancing AI globally.

A true “full-stack human,” Lavina combines her expertise in psychology, technology, and economics to bring a unique and insightful perspective to AI development. Her dedication and achievements are evident in her numerous accolades. A true futurist who’s vision is to accelerate the world’s augmentation of data by creating a more intelligent tomorrow through the footprints of collective humane knowledge. She’s not just a leader; she’s an inspiration, earning the title “#aiMOM” for fostering responsible development for a better tomorrow.

Uche Aniche is a tech and business innovation leader, an Angel Investor and an Africa’s Secondary Cities focused Fund Manager with over two decades of experience in business communication, process design, Startup & Innovation Management, Product development and Community Leadership.

Arguably the foremost advocate for  Startup/Entrepreneurship Ecosystem development out of Nigeria’s South-South/South-East through #StartupSouth, he has helped founders raise funding running into $Millions across Nigeria. #StartupSouth is a Startup & Innovation Community/Project inspiring the next generation of high scale founders in Nigeria.

A serial Entrepreneur and founder of Havilah & Hills Innovative Systems Limited, he serves as a Director at SSE Angel Network and General Partner at Rebel Seed Capital and until recently, was the Communication Director at Imo Economic Summit Group – a Tink-Tank professional group advocating for economic development of Imo State.

Brian is a Partner at Novastar Ventures, one of the biggest and most experienced global VC fund managers in Africa. The firm has nearly a decade’s track record of investing on the continent, over US$200m of funds under management and 24 portfolio companies. With offices in Lagos, London and Nairobi, Novastar partners with transformative businesses that create lasting financial, social and environmental value for the many, not just the few, for people and planet – for good. Novastar portfolio companies have, to date, directly benefitted more than 23m customers, employees and suppliers. As one of the first institutional VCs in Africa, Novastar helped to create the venture asset class in Africa and continues to promote it globally.

Prior to venture capital, Brian was an entrepreneur across multiple African markets including: being part of the founding team that started Jumia, a listed and award-winning e-commerce platform in Africa; co-founding Zamsolar, a last-mile renewable energy company in Zambia, and leading operations at Livelyhoods (now Solar Sister Kenya), a last mile, clean products distribution startup in Kenya. Brian led Novastar’s investments in Moniepoint (formerly TeamApt), TradeDepot, MAX.AI (formerly MAX.ng) and Ignitia and is a Board Director on all of these companies. Brian joined Novastar in 2015 and leads its activities in West Africa.

Jessica Hope is the Founder of Wimbart, the leading African-tech-focused PR consultancy. Launched in 2015, Wimbart has worked on over 150 of the continent’s most exciting and well-funded brands and companies with a focus on Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa and the MENA region. 

Jessica has grown the team to over 20 PR professionals, located in London, but who have a connection to Africa. Prior to starting her own PR company, Jessica worked at  the Natural History Museum, and the Jewish Museum and was Head of  Communications for the African entertainment brand, IROKO

An expert in her field, with over 15 years’ experience in communications,  Jessica and her team have crafted strategic, impactful media campaigns and communications for both Seed and Venture-backed start-ups, Unicorns,  entrepreneurs and global public bodies.  She has been named in PRWeek’s Powerbook 2019-24, she is a mentor for UK-based BME PR Pros, and also for Google Launchpad Africa and was recognised as one of Provoke’s EMEA “Innovators to Watch” 2021.

Joseph Benson-Aruna is a Partner at DFS Lab, an early-stage investor in high-potential entrepreneurs working to build innovative blockchain, fintech and digital commerce solutions in Africa. Prior to DFS Lab, Joseph was a co-founder at Wallets Africa, a Y Combinator backed neobank, and previously led design and product teams at Interswitch, Moniepoint, and McKinsey Digital.

Onyemelukwe is an African and Global media, entertainment and music expert. Mr. Onyemelukwe has worked in media and entertainment in the U.S., Nigeria and across Africa. He started his career at The Disney Company in Burbank California immediately after completing his BA.

In Fine Arts from The University of Southern California. After returning to The African Continent, in 2009, he joined Viacom Media as MTV Network, Business Development Manager, Nigeria, where he created campaigns for the likes of LG, Coca-Cola, and Cadbury among many others. Mr. Onyemelukwe acquired a master license to Trace TV in West Africa in 2011 and his company was acquired by the Trace Group in 2019.

Onyemelukwe is widely recognized for turning Trace into a market leader in the region. He has launched many popular TV channels such as Trace Naija, Trace Jama and Trace Gospel on DSTV, and STV Music on Startimes.  Onyemelukwe holds an MBA and an MA. in Information Technology from Boston University. 

Sunil Natraj joined Jumia in 2022 with extensive experience in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Jumia, he briefly handled the Jumia Express logistics business as VP of Sales and Marketing before transitioning to become the CEO of Jumia Ghana.

Ghana saw stellar growth under his leadership with revenues growing almost 100% YoY in USD.  He has taken Jumia to all parts of Ghana and Jumia Ghana now has a higher share of orders coming in from upcountry rather than from the capital city.

He had been based in Ghana for over 10 years, where he worked for large food-producing multinationals with operations in Europe and Africa.  Sunil is an IT Engineer and holds an MBA from The Indian Institute of Management

Calcutta.

Ahunna Ogunedo is an Investment Manager at 54 Collective, where she works closely with portfolio founders, external founders, and other key stakeholders to create shared value across the venture investment chain and help founders build without boundaries. Before joining 54 Collective, Ahunna was a Senior Associate in Investments at CRE Venture Capital, where she was responsible for deal sourcing, deal assessments, portfolio management, and research. A detail-oriented professional who is committed to delivering the best outcomes, Ahunna is a certified chartered accountant and holds a BSc in Accounting from Redeemer’s University.

Bernard brings a wealth of expertise in venture capital, investment banking, and telecommunications strategy across Africa. He has over 8 years of direct investment experience and has been active in the African venture capital scene since 2019.

Currently, Bernard spearheads West Africa investments at Norrsken22, an African tech growth fund providing capital and strategic value to founders. Prior to Norrsken22, he was Head of Investments at Acuity Venture Partners – an early-stage investor focused on Africa, where he led investments in twenty-four technology businesses spanning FinTech and market enablement verticals.

Bernard was a Senior Associate at I-DEV International in Kenya, supporting companies across East Africa in raising growth finance and developing go-to-market strategies. His tenure as Vodafone’s Senior Strategy Specialist underscores his ability to drive strategy formulation and execution in the telecom sector and was instrumental in establishing the firm’s 2020 Long-Range Plan and ‘WIN’ strategy.

His investment banking career involved sourcing and origination efforts for blue-chip clients across a number of sectors, raising a combination of equity and quasi-equity at IC Securities. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Information Systems, graduating Cum Laude, from Ashesi University.

Abayomi is the Regional Business Head and General Counsel at MainOne Cable Company, a leading telecom service provider in West Africa. He oversees sales, operations, and legal functions across the region (excluding Nigeria), managing key projects such as the development of Tier III data centers in Nigeria and Ghana, and the expansion of MainOne’s fiber optic network and submarine cables in West Africa.

Before joining MainOne, Abayomi co-headed the Financial Services Sector at Jackson, Etti & Edu, leading their Banking & Finance Unit. Recognized as a “Rising Star” by International Financial Legal Review from 2013 to 2019, he has also won the African Legal Rising Star award and was named one of the Top 40 Lawyers under 40 by ESQ Awards.

Abayomi holds an MBA from Lagos Business School and certifications from the London School of Economics, MIT, and the College of Law, England and Wales. He graduated from Obafemi Awolowo University and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2006.

Ifeoma is an energy access expert and a climate action champion, She has over 23 years of experience, building and directing organisational operations and strategy, supporting start-ups and MSMEs across Africa. In the past 10 years, she has become a recognized and credible leader in the energy and utility markets, working on the intersection of Energy Transition, Energy markets, Energy and Climate Financing and Climate Adaptation markets.

She is experienced in political economy, energy policy and energy markets, developmental
economy, climate and environment, sustainability, dispute resolution, process facilitation and
organisational development.

Yemi Keri is a distinguished Chair and Non-Executive Director with 23 years of experience in the Information Technology and Telecommunications industries, serving both the public and private sectors. An award-winning technologist, Yemi is at the forefront of digital transformation, tackling business and social challenges with innovative solutions. She is recognized as one of Nigeria’s leading women in technology.

Yemi serves on several prominent boards, including the First City Monument Bank Ltd (FCMB), Investment One Financial Services, the Nigerian-German Chamber of Commerce, Beyond Credit Limited, GAIA Africa, and the Nigeria Climate Innovation Centre. She is the Digital Platform and Financial Services Thematic Lead at the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), a member of the Governing Council of the Fintech Association of Nigeria, and on the Advisory Boards of Ingressive LLC, Majeur Chesterfield, and SabiHub.

As a co-founder of Rising Tide Africa, Yemi aims to enhance women’s participation in angel investing and promote education, cross-border investing, and investor mentoring across Africa. She is also a member of the Board of Governors of the Lagos Angel Network, the Board of the Africa Business Angel Network (ABAN), and the Investment Committee of the Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF), managed by Acumen Capital Partners.

In addition, Yemi is a mentor to various digital and technology-enabled startups, an Expert in Residence (EIR) at the Enterprise Development Centre (EDC), and a facilitator on Corporate Governance and Digital Technology & Trends at Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos. She was honored as Nigeria’s most outstanding Public Sector CIO at the ICT Centenary Awards in 2014.

Paras Patel is the Founder and Managing Partner of E3 Capital. He has 15+ years of investment banking and asset management experience and is a serial entrepreneur with exits in Europe and Africa. Raised in Kenya, Paras has always had a strong desire to foster sustainable development across the African continent. 

As a founding member of Energy Access Ventures (EAV), Paras has played a pivotal role in constructing the fund’s thesis around investing in smart infrastructure solutions for Sub-Saharan Africa. Paras led EAV’s investment into several innovative verticals, including commercial and industrial solar, wireless ISPs and digital LPG solutions, as well as into d.light, which became EAV’s first exit in 2020.

Paras currently sits on the boards of CAVEX, Badili, Solarise Energy, Mawingu Networks and SolarX where he leverages his entrepreneurial savvy, structure thinking and strategic mindset to drive sustainable growth.

Sunny Side Venture Partners would like to activate the world from Africa together with entrepreneurs of good ambitions, investing in Africa and Middle East, especially focusing on North Africa from Fund 1 as the first Asian VC based in Cairo, Egypt. Sadaharu Saiki(a.k.a. Sada), Founder & GP at Sunny Side Venture Partners, based in Cairo, Egypt, is passionate about finding startups with good ambitions and supporting them in scaling their businesses and their impact into the world, having invested in almost 20 companies so far. He worked at Dentsu Inc., one of the largest advertising companies in the world, for 6 years in Tokyo, Japan and 3 years in Bangalore, India, engaging in helping Japanese multinational corporations with marketing and communication. He is also an alum of McKinsey & Company. Sadaharu holds a Bachelor in Integrated Human Studies from Kyoto University and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) with distinction from Harvard Business School.

Kristin H. Wilson is a people technology whose work empowers entrepreneurs and business teams to harness the power of data and technology. Currently, the Managing Partner at Innovate Africa Fund and Bold Angel Network, she crafts innovative solutions that combine human operations, data analytics, and software to drive growth for SMEs and startups in sub-Saharan Africa.

With over a decade of management consulting experience in technology strategy, product development, and business planning, Kristin specialises in enabling organisations to develop infrastructure and processes to leverage technology and data for business scalability and profitability. Her expertise spans stakeholder engagement, operational enhancement, and digital transformation.

As a seasoned digital work expert, writer, speaker, and thought leader, Kristin has built a successful career helping startups and small businesses thrive in emerging markets. Her background in data analytics, operations research and project management has equipped her to drive innovation and growth for ambitious founders.

Kristin is a prolific writer and speaker who often highlights the benefits of embracing flexible and technology-driven workplace cultures whilst sharing her insights on the future of work in emerging market economies. She is inspiring and enabling business leaders to harness the potential of technology and remote work.

She maintains a robust and active angel investment portfolio, and is also the Chief Strategy Officer at Spurt! Kristin serves as LP Advisor at Oui Capital and Investment Lead for the Rising Tide Africa Angel Network. She is also a Harris Fellow.

Yele Oyekola, Co-Founder and CEO, began his career as a credit-focused Financial Analyst before moving to the United Nations, where he supported national governments in Africa with their economic policies.

In 2019, he founded Julla, a Buy-Now, Pay-Later startup aimed at helping e-commerce businesses in East Africa start, manage, and grow with ease. Julla operated until December 2020. In January 2021, Yele took the lessons learned from Julla and joined Carbon as a Product Lead, where he scaled their Buy-Now, Pay-Later product.

Now, Yele is focused on building and scaling Duplo, with the vision of making it the premier payment rail powering global trade. He holds a BA in Economics and Finance from the University of Reading, United Kingdom.

Jasiel Martin-Odoom serves as the Investment Officer, Africa, Accion Venture Lab. In his role, he leads Venture Lab’s Africa business, making investments in innovative fintech solutions with an inclusive focus. Additionally, he supports the portfolio companies, aiding them to scale their growth and enhance their impact.Prior to his tenure at Accion, Jasiel was a Senior Investment Associate at the Unreasonable Collective, a pledge fund committed to directing diverse capital and resources towards Series A climate-tech companies on a global scale.

Beyond his professional responsibilities, Jasiel is a passionate communicator. He regularly shares insightful commentary on African tech, startups, and gender-lens investing via his Twitter account (@jasielinvests), and he empowers founders with his newsletter, Startup Definition Sunday (sds.beehiiv.com), where he provides actionable tips to foster founder success.

Jasiel holds an MPA in Social Impact, Innovation, and Investment from NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

Vladimir is a Senior Partner at E3 Capital. He has 17+ years of experience in investment banking and private equity in emerging markets. Vladimir is passionate about driving disruptive innovation across the emerging world and effecting positive impact across industries and economies. After spending a few months in East Africa in 2017, he decided to follow this passion and move to Nairobi to focus on low carbon investments across the African continent. He is a Board Member of Untapped Global, Solarise Africa, SolarX Africa and ZiZ Energie. Vladimir holds an MBA from INSEAD.

Bongani is a tech entrepreneur with over 18 years of experience, having built three technology businesses from the ground up. Before joining 54 Collective, he led Black Beard, a company that built tech businesses for corporates. As a strategic thinker, Bongani bridges the gap between business needs and technology and is passionate about helping brands grow their competitive advantage in the market. As CEO of 54 Collective, he leads the early-stage investor in its mission to invest in, collaborate with, and support founders to go beyond borders and make a significant impact through commercially-oriented innovations that can sustainably improve the lives of people across the continent. 

Ayodeji is the Founder and CEO of PBR Life Sciences, a venture backed health tech startup with teams in the UK, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Sweden. The company offers big data and AI-powered data-as-a-service subscription platforms to help the healthcare and life sciences industry innovate and commercialise products across emerging markets. Ayodeji has worked in various roles across Africa, Europe, and Asia at big companies like GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, IQVIA, and AstraZeneca with experience across Europe, United Kingdom, Asia, and Africa, focusing on big data commercialization, genomics, AI, product innovation, marketing, and sales before venturing full-time into entrepreneurship. Ayodeji has an MBA from London Business School and a Pharmacy degree from the University of Lagos. He is a member of various professional groups in the UK and Nigeria.

Femi Adeyemo is the founder and CEO of Arnergy, a leading distributed utility company in Nigeria that provides energy reliability to residential, commercial, and industrial customers in emerging markets. As a visionary entrepreneur with flair for disruptive innovations, Femi is transforming Nigeria’s energy landscape with rooftop solar solutions. In his role as CEO, Femi provides overall strategic leadership and oversight for Arnergy. 

He also plays a primary role in driving technology, innovation, product development and business development in the Company. In 2019, he secured more than US$10m in equity investments from investors, including the Norwegian Government Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund) and Bill Gates’ Breakthrough Energy Ventures. Femi achieved a significant milestone in June 2023 when he hosted Bill Gates at Arnergy’s Lagos offices. Bill Gates was impressed with Femi and Arnergy’s work during the visit and left Arnergized by the quality of the conversation. This meeting with Bill Gates underlines Femi’s global recognition and further validates Femi and his impactful contributions to the energy sector and entrepreneurship in Nigeria.

Femi is globally recognized for his work and he’s not just a successful entrepreneur but also a mentor and speaker. He has been featured on CNN, BBC, Bloomberg, Reuters, CNBC, CGTN, and other international and local press. Also, he is a member of the Bloomberg New Economy Forum, a 300-global leaders community convened by Michael Bloomberg in Singapore annually to discuss the global economy and network.

Moyosola Okoye is a top-performing business strategy & transformation executive with extensive experience in strategic planning, analytics, intelligence, front-end innovation, and team leadership. She is highly skilled in building cross-functional teams’ capabilities, delivering strategic choices, and adhering to best practices. Moyosola has a proven ability to stay ahead of industry trends, global consumer insights, and the digital landscape, enabling her to craft cutting-edge growth strategies. Her expertise drives continuous improvement, organisational capability growth, digital business transformations, and revenue generation. Her specialities include growth hacking, entrepreneurship, innovation, user experience, forecasting, market planning, marketing, training, pricing, sales, strategy development, and trends analysis. 

Richard Oyome is the COO and co-founder of Raenest. With a wealth of experience spanning B2C and B2B fintech ventures, Richard brings an exceptional blend of creativity, growth strategy, and performance-driven marketing expertise to Raenest. Before Raenest, Richard played pivotal roles in some of Africa’s leading fintech companies. At OPay, he was instrumental in launching and managing the Digital Marketing Operations. He developed a fully optimised user acquisition process that seamlessly integrated marketing and telesales, which became OPay’s largest acquisition channel and contributed to its growth.

Richard also made significant strides as the Head of Marketing at Fairmoney, where he honed his strategic marketing acumen. At Lemonade Finance (now Lemfi), Richard served as the Head of Growth, where he executed a highly successful Influencer Marketing campaign. By onboarding influencers with a focus on African audiences in North America and the UK, helping expand Lemfi’s user base, increasing transaction volumes, securing a place in Y Combinator, and attracting venture capital investments.

Richard’s experience and innovative approach to growth and marketing have solidified his reputation as a key figure in the fintech industry, driving forward the mission of Raenest and empowering African businesses on the global stage.

Olumide Okubadejo Head of Product Olumide is an AI Research Scientist and Product Builder with over ten years of experience in machine-learning models and building AI systems and products. He holds a PhD in AI Image Processing from Université Grenoble Alpes, a Master’s Degree in Artificial Intelligence from the University of Southampton, and another in Entrepreneurship and Innovation from HEC Paris. Olumide has a strong background in product development, image processing, data science, computer vision, and machine learning.

He is passionate about applying his expertise to create innovative and engaging solutions while teaching and sharing his knowledge. He is a guest professor at ESIEE Paris, where he teaches data science, business intelligence, and artificial intelligence to master’s students. Additionally, he is a certified LinkedIn instructor, having completed multiple courses on design thinking, leadership, and communication artificial intelligence to master’s students. Additionally, he is a certified LinkedIn instructor, having completed multiple courses on design thinking, leadership, and communication.

Andrew Mori is the Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder of Deimos, Africa’s largest Google Cloud Partner. He has extensive experience in Software Development, DevOps, and Cloud-Native Engineering and has built engineering teams across several countries and industries.

Prior to starting Deimos, Andrew was the Chief Technology Officer of Konga, a Nigerian e-commerce company, where he focused on software delivery best practices and cloud infrastructure. During his time at Kongo, he built Africa’s most progressive web apps and was featured at the Progressive Web App Summit in 2016. This led him to found Deimos, with a mission to help African companies do the same.

Andrew has spent the majority of his professional career in software engineering and development for a range of companies and has worked on multiple web-related projects, and technologies and developed enterprise admin modules that could be integrated with multiple systems.

Andrew is passionate about nurturing the next phase of first-class African engineers, and he has pinned this objective as a guiding principle for Deimos. A Physicist by academic history, Andrew’s journey includes extensive working experience across Africa, the UK and the USA.

Jerry is a serial entrepreneur with over 20 years in telecommunications and FinTech. He previously led African operations at Nomi Mobile, backed by BT/British Telecommunication, and founded Sochitel UK and Nomiworld in 2007, focusing on international remittances. Sochitel, a leading global FinTech platform, facilitates mobile top-ups, data bundles, and digital vouchers, serving over 150 million users daily. With offices across Africa and emerging markets, Sochitel was acquired by IDT Corporation in 2021, enhancing its global reach.

Jerry’s dedication to improving lives through digital services extends to various charitable initiatives across Africa. He was recently named Cranfield School of Management’s Entrepreneur of the Year for 2023. Jerry holds an Executive MBA from Cranfield and a law degree from the University of Nigeria Nsukka.

Unini Campbell, Chief Commercial Officer at BudPay, boasts over a decade of fintech experience, blending strategic insight with hands-on leadership. Prior roles at Migo and Cellulant showcased her knack for identifying and capitalizing on market opportunities, driving revenue growth, and expanding market reach. 

Unini’s expertise extends to collaborating with startups in Nigeria, Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya, facilitating growth initiatives and partnerships. She also serves as a venture partner at Beta Ventures, a VC Fund in New York and Lagos, empowering entrepreneurs. 

Unini holds a BSc in Economics, an MPIA, and a Diploma in African Studies. She is a certified Project Management Professional, with certificates from HBS, INSEAD, and SGBS in Scaling Entrepreneurial Ventures, Leadership at Scale, and Innovation & Growth, respectively.

Francis Nwoboshi, Chief Commercial Officer at Sochitel, brings over 20 years of experience in financial services and digital payments across Africa. He leads Sochitel’s commercial team, driving revenue growth, expanding market presence, and aligning products with market needs.

Prior to joining Sochitel, Francis held roles such as Commercial Banker at GT Bank in Nigeria, Corporate Strategy and Finance Manager at Stanbic IBTC, and Head of Mobile and Acquiring Digital Channels. He holds a degree in Economics from the University of Ibadan, is a Certified Payments Professional, Prince2 Certified Project Management Practitioner, Scrum Master, and has an MBA from the University of Sheffield.

Olúwatóyìn (Toyin) partners with ambitious entrepreneurs who are building businesses to change the world for good, starting with Africa.  He has over 16 years’ experience across the financing value chain from investment banking and project finance, private equity, impact investing and venture capital. His expertise includes fundraising, investment appraisal, commercial growth, strategic planning, board management and developing governance systems. Toyin has worked closely with entrepreneurs across a variety of geographies, sectors, and business models. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Nottingham, UK.

Vivian is a visionary leader in the tech industry, known for her innovative approach and impactful contributions. As the Chief Operating Officer of The Tonic Technologies, she’s redefined leadership by fostering a culture of creativity, collaboration, and purpose.

She’s also the founder of RediscoverHer, a non-profit empowering women to navigate life’s milestones with confidence. Through workshops and mentorship, Vivian has built a community where women support each other in living authentically and making intentional choices. A dedicated volunteer, dedicating her time to causes close to her heart, Vivian blends ambition with grace, seamlessly balancing her career, passions, and personal growth. She’s not just living her life—she’s leading it and inspiring others to do the same.

Ferdinand Adimefe is a creator, producer, educator, and CEO of Magic Carpet, a pioneering storytelling company that brings authentic African narratives to global entertainment through 2D, 3D animation, and games. A member of the International Emmy Awards and winner of the UN Innovation Challenge Sahel 2022, Ferdinand is passionate about driving policies in the creative and cultural industries. He holds a Master’s from Pan-Atlantic University, serves on the board of Slum to School Africa, and is the curator of the Imaginarium Interactive and Creative Nigeria Project.

Gbemisola Abudu is an accomplished entrepreneur, business leader, luxury marketing expert, and social activist with 17 years of experience developing and building businesses, brands, and human capital in Africa, the Middle East, and North America.

She is the NBA Africa Vice President & Country Head of NBA Nigeria, where she is responsible for leading the NBA’s basketball and business development efforts in Nigeria, including grassroots programming for youth, elite player development, relationships with current and prospective marketing partners, media, and merchandise partners, and social responsibility efforts that elevate the lives of Nigerians through basketball. In her role, she was recently recognized by Sports Illustrated as one of the 100 Most Influential Black Women in Sports in the World.

Guy Stiebel is a seasoned fintech innovator with over a decade of experience at the forefront of financial technology, developing cutting-edge consumer and enterprise solutions for some of the world’s leading financial institutions. As the VP of Product at Cedar Money, Guy is pioneering the development of next-generation B2B payment systems. He is currently leading efforts to integrate stablecoins and digital assets into Cedar’s offerings, with a bold vision to revolutionize cross-border payments for businesses in developing markets. His work is redefining how financial systems operate in emerging economies, driving innovation that empowers businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital and interconnected world.

Joey Akan is the Founder of Afrobeats Intelligence, Entertainment Editor of News Central TV, and the West African Arts & Culture Commissioning Editor for The

Conversations Africa. He is a multi-award-winning journalist, writer, A&R and Media Consultant as a multi-award-winning writer and music journalist, he spent over 5 years as the Music Editor of Pulse Nigeria, where he led a team of creatives at the Pulse Entertainment Desk.

He’s written on a variety of topics for the music industry, including investigations into the music distribution business, Africa, its sounds, and the music culture.

Joey has also covered some of the continent’s biggest events, including the MTV Africa Music Awards, Red Bull Culture Clash, Headies, African Music Awards, and many others. 

Seni is the Co-Founder & CEO of Talstack, a learning and talent management platform that helps companies manage employee engagement, productivity and performance. He is also founder at Black Ops, a private network for African operators. 

Seni’s prior career cuts across roles and industries including Chief Operating Officer at Bellhop, a venture-backed startup where he led operations across the US, VP of Global Operations at Andela, a venture-backed unicorn where he led operations across Africa, Bristow Group, where he built and operated a new business jet airline in Nigeria, Strategy Manager at HP in silicon valley, and Management Consultant at Bain & Company.

Seni holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University.

Andy Obuoforibo is Head Of Product at 54Collective, where he leads the Design, Engineering, and Product teams to help portfolio companies along the journey to Product-Market Fit. Andy has been building product for over 20 years, first as a software engineer, and then as a product manager. His experience cuts across multiple sectors like agritech, fintech, public health, and media, and he has built extensively for B2C, B2B, and B2G. Andy is obsessed with 2 things: finding new ways to leverage service design and cutting edge tech to deliver product in more scalable ways in emerging markets, and identifying the emerging market nuances to global best practice for building products and startups.

Ajetomobi Oluwaferanmi brings nearly a decade of experience in coordinating market entry campaigns for fintech and FMCG industries. He began his career as a sales associate for Dangote Sugar and later transitioned to storytelling for a marketing agency. His big break came in 2017 when he joined Cowrywise as a brand storyteller, where he played multiple roles in growth functions and significantly contributed to the platform’s early organic growth of 500,000 users.

Following his time at Cowrywise, Feranmi led growth efforts at companies such as Okra and Flutterwave. He also has experience in the FMCG sector, where he coordinated the digital demand setup for Integrated Dairies, makers of FarmFresh and Refresh yogurts, and spearheaded the go-to-market strategy for Refresh yogurt.

Currently, he serves as the Country Manager for Cenoa, a cross-border payment solutions provider that powers over 400,000 high-interest USD accounts for Nigerians as of September 2024. Cenoa, backed by the Mastercard Foundation, operates in the EU, UK, Turkey, and Nigeria.

Yinka Adewuyi is a product leader and entrepreneur, currently the CEO and co-founder of the online supermarket GoLemon. Previously, he spent seven years at Paystack, where he led product and partnerships within core processing.

Hugo Obi is the CEO and Founder of Maliyo Games, a leading African mobile game studio. A visionary entrepreneur, Hugo is dedicated to building the African gaming industry through innovative games and talent development initiatives.

Since founding Maliyo Games in 2012, Hugo has pioneered game development training programs in Africa, including GameUp Africa, a continent-wide boot camp for aspiring developers, and the Game Art Training Program, which upskills artists for careers in the industry.

Maliyo Games made history in 2024 as the first African developer to collaborate with Disney Games on the Iwájú Rising Chef mobile game. The studio’s portfolio also includes popular titles like Aboki Run and Whot King. A sought-after speaker and expert on the African games industry, Hugo has presented at major events like Nordic Game, Africa Games Week, BIG Festival, GamesCom, and GDC. He also co-authored the groundbreaking 2024 Africa Games Industry Report.

Recognized for his contributions, Hugo has been twice awarded the prestigious Games Industry Africa “Person of the Year” accolade.

Francis Vesta is a seasoned investment professional currently serving as an Investment Associate at Madica, where he plays a key role in identifying and supporting mission-driven founders. With a strong background in venture capital and private equity, Francis brings valuable expertise to the table. His skills include leading investment due diligence, robust analytical capabilities, and proficiency in data analysis and business development. Before his role at Madica, Francis co-founded a blockchain-based gaming startup, where he served as the Chief Financial Officer. In this capacity, he contributed to building the technological infrastructure that empowered African gamers to monetize their gaming skills.

Francis’s prior experiences also involve working as an Investment Associate for a Venture Capital fund launched in 2018, dedicated to funding tech-enabled startups in Sub-Saharan Africa. His contributions extend to providing investment advisory and fundraising support to startup founders within the local ecosystem.

Francis holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and is a certified Financial Modelling and Valuation Analyst underscoring his strong foundation in financial expertise. His commitment to fostering innovation and supporting mission-driven ventures positions him as a valuable asset in the dynamic landscape of venture capital and investment.

Azeezat Olaoluwa is a multimedia Journalist who has more than a decade of work experience with Nigerian and international media organisations. She has worked as a News Anchor, Presenter, Producer and Reporter in the 14 years of her media career.

She has produced impactful stories and also conducted insightful interviews with distinguished personalities in pivotal sectors, locally and internationally. Azeezat Olaoluwa also works as a communication consultant, media trainer, and a compere.

Ade Jinadu is the Product Marketing Lead at Zedcrest Wealth, a brand solely vested in simplifying wealth creation for everyone through innovative solutions and financial expertise. Ade previously co-founded Gamr, Africa’s leading e-sports platform. His entrepreneurial spirit and deep understanding of digital trends have shaped his career.

With six years of expertise in data and marketing, Ade is a skilled strategist who transforms market insights into impactful business outcomes. He is a graduate of the prestigious University of Leeds with a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Management His love for sports fuels his competitive drive and his philosophy of challenging the status quo inspires him to push boundaries and create exceptional results.